Category Archives: TYGERS OF PAN TANG

Among the more complex compositions, worth mentioning are the experimental “Cybernation” and subtle “Deja Vu” whose rhythm sections are the highlight, not to mention the captivating “Master Of Illusion”. The real centrepiece of about nine minutes, this piece appears as a kaleidoscope of TOPT and concludes with a long solo at an almost doom tempo. For the rest, the mid-tempo “Godspeak” stands out with unusual vocal lines combined with choirs. “Running Man” is more traditional but still effective. Via the epic power ballad, “The Spirit Never Dies” the Hammond sounds enter the scene…To summarize, “Noises From The Cathouse” is an interesting album, pleasant, varied and flawlessly solid at all levels. In 2016, it rose from the ashes to finally get the recognition it deserves. Take the opportunity to discover this album and this band.

Odymetal (Translated – May 2016)

Starting with a playful blast of “Bad Bad Kitty” and signing off with the equally tuneful “Master Of illusion” whose tempo shifts and lyrical flow bare the metal-laden depth of it all, this record refines TOPT’s trademark double-barrel assault on “High Speed Highway Superman” while in the molten prayer of “Cybernation” Dean Robertson’s axe cuts the second six-string’s strum in a lyrical way.

The tightness-and-release method is what the band excel at, best illustrated by “Running Man” and its bluesy licks sprinkled over the groove as Richie Wicks is bemoaning the fate of a questing spirit, although a reckless rock ‘n’ rolling of “Three In A Bed” may vie with the epics for attention. There’s a lot of anger, peaking in “Godspeak” to the punches of Brian West’s bass, yet it’s well balanced with fun, and the re-recording of “Don’t Touch Me There” from the ensemble’s debut – one of the bonuses on this reissue – only stresses their development and relevance. The TYGERS still roar: a solid noise it is. ***1/2

DMME.net (April 2016)

…one thing is certain, this tiger always has sharp fangs with this album being no exception – guitar riffing, epic solos, tempos, and good raspy vocals. It opens with a bang with ‘Bad Bad Kitty’, glam rock yet boosted with a voice like Bon Scott, and Robb Wier’s exciting solos…

…’Three In A Bed’ is a track like old time Van Halen, and ‘Master Of Illusion’ has very thick guitars and a killer riff.

There are three bonus tracks from the album sessions, still full of the crazy guitar of Robb Wier. It’s uncompromising, as Robb assumes the role of guitar hero with his playing melting ice faster than global warming! Hard rock, this is the business of the Tygers! (***)

Highlands Magazine (Translated – April 2016)

…with “Three In A Bed” (whatever could that be about?) an out and out homage to Roth fronted Van Halen through its bouncy beat, party like chorus and Wicks’ deep, leering spoken word section, there’s much more to this version of TOPT than you may think.

“Bad Bad Kitty” keeps up the (ahem) tasteful lyrical themes, yet while the words may hint more at the eighties than the noughties, what Tygers have done here is to keep the essence of their sound while spreading their wings to add influences as wide and varied as Extreme, Faith No More and in the case of “…Kitty” a more sleazy slap.

…In many ways the NWOBHM tag has been a curse for countless bands and Tygers Of Pan Tang are no exception. Here they prove once again that they have many more strings to their fret boards than the sub genre suggests. Noises From The Cathouse is a rediscovered album genuinely worth the time taken to rediscover it.

Sea Of Tranquility (March 2016)

The disk opens with the powerful and gloomy “Boomerang”, introduced by a mild and persuasive theme with violin and piano. The next development is played on a very well constructed contrast between arpeggiated parts (dark and suggestive) and moments of more direct impact, with imposing riffing, fulminating and fully supported by the bass / drums rhythm section.

The voice of the former Angel Witch Ritchie Wicks is well set and drag properly, especially in the pounding refrain. It continues with “Godspeak” and is an almost dissonant riff, then supported by a lilting rhythmic base but compelling. The riffing of Weir is processed and delightful especially in the main refrain…The result is really interesting.

The next track “Masters of Illusion”, demonstrates once again their ability to create melodic textures with long, dark and powerful riffs…”Highspeed Highway Superman” definitely changes the atmosphere, concentrating one’s attention on more sustained rhythmic and dynamic heavy-riffing and catchy rock, embellished with a good solo.

In conclusion, this “Noises from the Cathouse” is a good album…Here you will find a range of atmospheres and sounds that will please both lovers of old school metal and those who grew up listening to the latest sounds.

Truemetal.it (February 2016)

“Noise from the Cathouse” is a solid hard rock disc with occasional metallic approaches. “Boomerang” is a great rhythmic track featuring quite heavy guitars, and “Three In A Bed” is a real ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ number…the album also features two classics “Slave To Freedom” and “Don’t Touch Me There” as bonus tracks, that enhance the re-release…

Musik An Sich (February 2016)

Considering its time of recording, the album is filled to the brim with surprisingly unadulterated heavy metal, its roots still firmly embedded in the NWOBHM subculture that sprung to life in the late seventies. Doesn’t make them bad people of course. There’s an honesty to this material – produced by Chris Tsangarides – that is infinitely preferable to the sneering, condescending undertone that runs through the so called post rock irony of a few contemporary AOR bands.

‘Highspeed Highway Superman’ and ‘Running Man’ see the machine ramped up to reach an hypnotic momentum. These tracks and others – ‘Three In A Bed’ for instance – just hum with kinetic energy. ‘Bad Bad Kitty’ and ‘Godspeak’ are opposite sides of the same coin. One seems to pursue the glam, stack heeled direction of travel, while the other’s funereal call and response vocals display the band’s ability to wed a muscular brand of heavy metal to their earlier, darker inclinations.

Darker still, ‘Cybernation’ and ‘The Spirit Never Dies’ are just the warm up for the epic, 3 act, 9 minute ‘Master Of Illusion’, a stately, majestic exploration of the genre, teasing us with an unconsummated dalliance with Progressive rock. There are echoes here of one of the bonus tracks, ‘Slave to Freedom’, originally from the 1980 debut, Wildcat, whose prescient time changes were something of a clue to the musical temptations that almost turned their heads, at the beginning of their recording career.

Of the other 2 bonus tracks, one is a new, streamlined mix of ‘Highspeed Highway Superman’, and the other a cleverly arranged rework of ‘Don’t Touch Me There’, a track that also originally appeared on the band’s debut album. All 3 bonus tracks were re-recorded in 2004, planned as album extras for the Japanese market.

There are some brief but informative liner notes here, delineating the band’s 35 year history, including an interview with founder Robb Weir, and a few fascinating (and evocative) photos.

The Midlands Rocks (January 2016)

Fast-forward thirteen years and ‘Noises’ has now been given a new lease of life via Angel Air. The revamped album features new artwork, a shuffled running order that redefines the dynamism of the original ten songs, and three bonus tracks which take the running time up to a hefty 75 minutes. The material certainly hasn’t lost its bite over the intervening years, and songs like the huge, sprawling ‘Master Of Illusion’ is just one example of the band’s ability to create a grandiose metal epic, while the haunting but power chord laden ‘Cybernation’ is as dystopian as its title suggests.

The bonus tracks were recorded in 2004 and feature album cut ‘Highspeed Highway Superman (Two Wheeled Version)’ alongside the debut album classic ‘Slave To Freedom’ and debut single classic ‘Don’t Touch Me There’…they do round off a rather exciting re-issue rather nicely.

John Tucker (January 2016)

The original release has now been fleshed out a little with the addition of three bonus tracks and should be required listening for devotees of melodic hard rock everywhere, with ‘Highspeed Highway Superman’ and ‘Godspeak’ emerging as the pick of a punchy package.

Animal Instinct genuinely finds the band recapturing some of the confidence and swagger of old with gritty riffs and up-tempo melodies. This new version is enhanced by the addition of bonus tracks…The DVD is a vibrant hour or so of the band in a Berlin TV studio trawling through their back catalogue including ‘Suzi Smiled’ and a sprinkling of newer material…If you have never purchased a Tygers album…Animal Instinct is as good a place as any to start.

Dean Pedley, Sea of Tranquility (June 2009)

Last year’s Animal Instinct has re-ignited the passion in this band and this very welcome DVD set underlines exactly that…you just can’t go wrong.
Eurorock by Jeff Perkins (www.blogcritics.org)

There’s a new confidence around the band…If you haven’t got a copy of ‘Animal Instinct’ then I strongly suggest you purchase ‘Animal Instictx2′ because the Tygers may be older and wiser, but they can still give you one hell of a bite.

The Mayfair Mall Zine (July 2009)

The original material contained on Animal Instinct sees the band retaining all the classic elements of their sound yet these songs also come across as remarkably fresh and current as well. It’s almost as if someone gave these guys a firm kick to their asses because there is definitely a rejuvenated feeling permeating throughout. The twin guitar attack of Weir and Dean Robertson is absolutely lethal on tracks such as “Cry Sweet Freedom” and “Let It Burn” and coupled with Meille’s impressive vocal range the group tears through these songs with a staggering sense of urgency.

This reissue also includes a bonus DVD filmed in Berlin Studios so you get to witness the bands lethal live attack up close as they dig deep into their back catalogue going back to their earliest recordings, including one of their last singles, a revved up cover of “Love Potion No 9″.

Animal Instinct X2 is both a blast of nostalgia as well as proof that there’s still plenty of bite left in the old Tyger yet.

Ryan Sparks, http://www.classicrockrevisited.com (August 2009)

The CD is good old school NWOBHM but the DVD is the business…The Tygers go for it, mixing old and new material seamlessly…

Amplifier (September 2009)

…one album of superb new material in the hard rocking mould…plus a live DVD…mixing new tracks with old classics…Highly recommended!
Classic Rock Society (September 2009)

The liner notes in the CD booklet are quite interesting and it’s nice to have a 75 minutes counting live record of TOPT, with such classic tracks like “Running man”, Suzie smiled”, “Lonely at the top”, “Paris by air” and “Hellbound”, but I am afraid it’s not THE TOPT sound like it once was, but nevertheless it’s a recommended album for the fan/collector of TOPT products.

Strutter Magazine (July 2003)

There’s no doubting the NWOBHM finesse on offer here and the Tygers spearheaded that early eighties movement with the likes of Saxon, Girlschool and Samson. For those of a certain age the genre was characterised by speed metal guitars, catchy riffs and robust tales of life on the road.

James Rutherford, Get Ready to ROCK! (July 2003)

…some thirty years and many lost hair follicles later the group is back, in a form, and sounding damned impressive…a positively vicious live act that recalls those halycon days of metal excess as perfectly as any ever could…passionately done Metal that will have balding accountants, lawyers, and line workers joing a new generation of kids in some of the most injurous head banging there ever was. Class A work!

David L.Wilson, www.electricbasement.com

…they can still produce the kind of polished melodic metal that won over so many headbanger’s hearts…

Peter French, Hartlepool Mail (August 2003)

…The question is whether the power, energy, and sheer exhilaration comes over when transferred to disc, and the answer is a resounding yes!
A fantastic performance by the band is equalled by crystal clear sound quality and superb production and ensures this is an essential souvenir of a memorable tour

Classic Rock Society (August 2003)

On this disc are 16 live songs, live in a modest sense since the audience scarcely make themselves heard. Three tracks are from “Mystical”, four are from the forthcoming album “Noises from the Cathouse”, eight are old jewels while the closes is a cover of TED NUGENTS “Cat Scratch Fever”. Of the new songs “Cybernation” is an attempt to become QUEENSRYCHE while the others are typical English hard rock tunes.

Mikael Johnssen, SR magazine, Sweden (September 2003)

Guitarist and founder member Robb Weir has assembled a new line-up and this muscular live set captures their melodic brand of heavy rock at its most compelling.

Kevin Bryan, Belfast Telegraph

The question is whether the power,energy and sheer exhilaration comes over when transferred to disc and the answer is a resounding yes!
A fantastic performance by the band is equalled by crystal clear sound quality and superb production and ensures that this is an essential souvenir of a memorable tour.

“Hearing Aid”, Classic Rock Society (September 2003)

This is hard rock in its true form – and if you have ever been fascinated by the sound of guitars that don’t pander to fashion then this could well be for you…but for whatever reason I feel this is a stonking album.

Feedback (Nov 2003)

…no matter how loud you like your big cats to roar, the Tygers…will not let you down

…The question is whether the power, energy, and sheer exhilaration comes over when transferred to disc, and the answer is a resounding yes!

A fantastic performance by the band is equalled by crystal clear sound quality and superb production and ensures this is an essential souvenir of a memorable tour

Classic Rock Society (August 2003)

These five typical Englishmen play a lot of what I wanna hear and in a way that brings enormous 80-ies vibes. Included are also a promo video of “Mystical”…, and an almost 25 minutes interview with Robb Weir. It all provides insight as to the magnitude of TYGERS OF PAN TANG during the first half of the eighties. Robb´s dedication to the band is really still present…get this DVD.

Mikael Johnssen, SR magazine, Sweden (September 2003)

If you’re among those who feel that bands such as Tygers Of Pan Tang are best left in the past, then this surprisingly entertaining DVD of a recent show may go a long way to changing your mind….Guitarist Robb Weir is the sole survivor from those semi-glory days, and he’s assembled a very decent 21st century version of the band, with frontman Richie Wicks proving an adept successor to both Jess Cox and Jon Deverill….There’s bonus material…but the main thrust of this footage is nostalgia. And the Tygers offer that in abundance.

Malcolm Dome, Classic Rock magazine (October 2003)

…this DVD called ‘Visions from the cathouse’ is a very interesting DVD to check out, as it features a concert the band did not that long ago with the new lead singer. The band made a nice collection of old and new songs, from the first period (1979-1983) and the current period (1999-2003), with the addition of 2 covers (the Tygers classic “Love potion no9” and TED NUGENT’s “Cat scratch fever”). Most notable fact is that 4 completely new songs were played during this concert, so it is very interesting to check out if you’re a dedicated fan of the band.

Between the songs of the concert, there is some video footage of the band in the studio, where they are recording their new CD (which is also titled ‘Visions from the cathouse’ I believe). Those 4 newly played songs are “Bad bad kitty”, “Cybernation”, “Running man” and “Deja Vu”, but still the older tracks are showcasing the band’s finest moments (“Lonely at the top”, “Paris by air”, “Take it”, “Hellbound” and “Don’t stop by”). The DVD also contains a very nice interview with the only original member (Robb Weir) and it’s funny to see that at one point (in 1985) there was a line-up of TYGERS OF PAN TANG that didn’t include any of the members of today’s line-up, which is quite bizarre and unique for a rock’n’roll band. Anyway, another extra is the video clip of the song “Mystical”, which has been re-recorded with the new singer as well. So there you have it, a very impressive DVD of one of the first (and still surviving) bands from the NWOBHM scene! (8.5/10)

Strutter magazine (October 2003)

This is a hard rock band, nothing more or less, with some classic songs and a great vocalist in Ritchie Wicks…There is also an interview with Robb(Weir) where he talks about the life of the band, as well as the promo video for ‘Mystical’. A must for any fan of NWOBHM.